On the topic of treatment and representation of rural Appalachian people, something we deal with on a regular basis, Red Right Hand shows respect for that culture. The Nelms brothers only slightly wander into the realm of stereotype and caricature from time to time. Mostly the country setting is played straight. It is commendable that the actors don’t affect goofy mountain-moron accents. The characters are played with a slight nod to a casual Southern lilt in the voice, which is more or less accurate depending on where they are. The exact location isn’t specified… somewhere that Hunger Games would identify as District 12.
The performances go a long way toward providing this authenticity. Bloom is perhaps best known as the Elf Fighter Legolas in Lord of the Rings, but he has long since put aside his Elvin bow and picked up heavier weaponry to take on the forces of darkness. Dillahunt is an underrated character actor who always brings something unique to any show or film that he’s in. His performances (he played two roles) in Deadwood are solid and crucial to the story. Here, as the preacher who still has his guns, he is a delight to watch.
“She’s bloodthirsty, vengeful, mean as a snake, and entirely believable…”
It’s been a long time since Groundhog Day, and Andie MacDowell has perfected her skills to bring us Big Cat as a vicious, country version of Tony Soprano. She’s bloodthirsty, vengeful, mean as a snake, and entirely believable because of MacDowell. Big Cat is a mountain-dwelling Ozymandias: “Look on her works, ye mighty, and despair.”
The quality of the performances is particularly noteworthy, given the boilerplate nature of the script. The narrative reads like mad-libs of this lazy trope: “Corrupt rural authority does evil deeds unimpeded until they cross swords with reluctant but combat-ready anti-hero underdog.” This includes everything from Rambo to Next of Kin to Roadhouse, just to name a few of many. That’s not to say Red Right Hand isn’t entertaining because it is. You’ve just seen it before.
"…fully delivers in the action realm..."
